Contents

Get in

By train

Asilah lies on the rail line linking Tangier to Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Meknes, and Fez. The train station is a 2 km walk along the beach northeast of town; alternatively, minibuses (3Dh) sometimes meet the train in hopes of collecting passengers. It should also be easy to flag down a grand taxi along the road.

Accomodation in Asilah

Seaview Flat Marina Golf

This serviced apartment in the Asilah Marina Golf has a lovely sea view from both the living room and the bedroom, on the outskirts of the town often referred to as one of the most quiet and peaceful area, yet only thirty minutes from the larger cities such as Tangiers, the apartment has easy access to all amenities, including the local market for bargain hunting, and some excellent fish restaurants for eating out along the Paseo Maritimo.

The apartment benefits from many communal pools, with a shallow end perfect for the children. The bedroom have stunning sea views. With one double bed and two single ones, the flat is ideal for 4 people, with plenty in the surrounding area to see and do during your stay.

Many communal gardens as well as a tennis court are available. The residence has a 24hours security service.

One private parking place is available in the basement as well as many communal parking.

Asilah feels and looks a lot like a Spanish town in Andalucía. It is a lovely, old, very clean white-washed town on the Atlantic. The town has a very quiet feel, and makes for a good stop. The ramparts and towers of the town give you the impression time has stood still here, and if you walk down the small alleys at lunch time you can't help but wonder at the tranquility.

By bus

The Gare Routière. for locations such as Fez, Meknes, Marrakesh is on main road opposite Shell gas station due east up street from northern end of the medina (walk past cemetary and turn left on main road one block to Shell station). To Meknes MD50; to Marrakesh MD130 (as of June 2011)
The grand taxi rank is nearby with frequent Taxis to Tangier (20Dh) and Larache (15Dh) leaving when full.

grand taxis Larache.

grand taxis Tanger.

Get around

Cars are not allowed in the Medina, making walking the easiest form of transportation in Asilah proper. It's a small enough town that walking should not be a problem.
Petit taxis are available if you need to go further, e.g. to the train station (2km north).

There are two main entry points to the medina:

Bab Al Homar.

Bab Al Kasbah.

See

Like most Moroccan towns, Asilah consists of a medina and a ville nouvelle. The medina is small, clean, and features wall paintings by African artists. North and east of the medina, the ville nouvelle is also pleasant.

Asilah hosts an art festival every August where they cover their walls in fantastic murals. You can spend a full day walking around the medina looking at these beautiful paintings.

Do

Buy

Eat

Due to its proximity to Spain and the large number of Spanish tourists it sees, Asilah's restaurants offer Spanish classics such as paella and tortilla in addition to the ubiquitous tagine and couscous.
Many restaurants, including local seafood restaurants, are located along Ave Mohamed el Hassani, with covered terraces next the the southeast wall of the medina. Ask which ones serve beer or wine.

Fruit and vegetable market, (just south of Bab Al-Homar). for self-catering

Drink

Enjoy mint tea in one of the cafes.

Sleep

map of Asilah city center

From Tangier

From Tangier, you can hire a grand taxi for the ~1 hour drive to Asilah. The fare is about MD20 per seat. A whole taxi should thus not be more than MD180.
Busses leave frequently from the Gare Routière for MD15.
You can also get to Assilah directly from Tanger Airport. The price is fixed to 200 Dh per Taxi.
Alternatively, the main road connecting Tanger and Asilah is 1.8km from the airport, where you can flag down a grand taxi that will take you to Asilah for 15Dh (there is much traffic, but most taxis don't go to Asilah, so you'll need some patience).
This is much easier on the way back, where you’ll just have to ask the driver to let you exit.

The connection from Tetouan is not at all as good. There is only one bus leaving in the afternoon. Otherwise, unless you’re willing to pay for a private grand taxi (probably around MD200), you’ll have to go to Tangier first.